“I wanted to return to Barça”: Lionel Messi’s shocking confession
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has revealed that he wanted to return to Barcelona—but ultimately, it didn’t work out.
Lionel Messi wearing the Inter Miami jersey @AFP
The Argentine legend was eager to rejoin the La Liga giants after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi, now 38 and a World Cup winner with Argentina, left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract in 2023 and opted to move to Major League Soccer.
“I intended to return to Barcelona, to go back to the place I had always wanted to be, but it was no longer possible,” Messi told Simplemente Fútbol.
“After that, choosing a new club became a family decision. Winning the World Cup also had a significant impact. I was clear: I didn’t want to be in another European team. I didn’t want to go to any of them,” he added.
Messi spent 17 seasons at Barça, winning a total of 35 trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies. Since joining Inter Miami, he has lifted two titles: the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield.